While Morton Blackwell may not be a household name, he is, without a doubt, one of the most important conservative leaders in America.

It's safe to say he has acolytes serving in the highest echelons of government -- as well as in every major GOP presidential campaign.

Here's one small example that will give you a glimpse into how influential Blackwell is:

Everyone knows National Review, RedState, and Townhall.com are three of the top outlets for conservative new media, right? Well, five years ago, National Review's Mark Hemingway, RedState co-founder Mike Krempasky, and yours truly, all three worked for Morton Blackwell (we are by no means the most prominent of his proteges).